Do I need to live on campus to receive the Piper Promise?

No. Housing is not required. Students who commute or live off campus remain fully eligible for the grant.

Does the Piper Promise amount change if tuition increases?

No. Students who remain eligible will continue to receive a combination of federal, state, and Hamline grants and scholarships equal to the Piper Promise funding received during their first year. However, as tuition increases in subsequent years, students are responsible for covering the additional cost through other financial resources such as loans, student employment, or personal funds.

Is there a separate application for the Piper Promise?

No. Eligibility is determined through your FAFSA and admission application. No additional application is required.

When will I know if I qualify?

Once you are admitted and your FAFSA has been processed, your financial aid offer will indicate whether you qualify for the Piper Promise.

Is the Piper Promise renewable?

The Piper Promise can support students for up to eight semesters, provided they: File the FAFSA on time each year. Continue to meet income and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) criteria. Remain enrolled full-time in a traditional undergraduate degree program.

How do I maintain eligibility?

Students who withdraw may forfeit eligibility. If a student’s family Adjusted Gross Income exceeds the grant limit or other eligibility requirements are no longer met, the student may lose eligibility for the Promise Grant but may still qualify for other forms of financial aid.

Piper Promise

First-year Free Tuition Grant

Students chatting on the stairs by Bush Library

Our commitment: making college affordable

Hamline University is committed to making a high-quality education accessible to Minnesota students. The Piper Promise guarantees free tuition for the first year for qualified, first-time, first-year students, and maintains the same level of tuition support each year through the fourth year of continuous attendance.

The grant covers the full cost of tuition during the student’s first year after all federal, state, institutional, and outside scholarships and grants are applied. It applies only to tuition and does not include housing, meals, fees, books, or other living expenses.

How the grant works

First-year full tuition

The Piper Promise covers the full cost of tuition (15–18 credits per term) for eligible students in their first year at Hamline University, after all other financial aid is applied. The grant applies to tuition only and excludes housing, meals, fees, books, and personal expenses.

Up to 8 semesters of coverage

The total amount of all grants and scholarships awarded in the initial financial aid offer for first-time, first-year students will be maintained at the same level for up to eight semesters, provided the student continues to meet the Piper Promise eligibility requirements.

No requirement to live on-campus

On-campus housing is not required. Students who live off campus or commute remain fully eligible.

Tuition after the first year

After the first year, the Piper Promise does not automatically adjust to cover tuition increases. Students who continue to meet eligibility criteria will be responsible for any tuition increases thereafter. Based on historical averages, Hamline anticipates an annual tuition increase of approximately 3.5%, though the exact amount is subject to change.

Students may use student employment, loans, or personal resources to help cover any future tuition increases.

Eligibility requirements for fall 2026 entry

To qualify for the Piper Promise, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Be a newly enrolling, full-time, degree-seeking first-year student starting Fall 2026.
Be a Minnesota resident or graduate of a Minnesota high school.
Hold a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.
Have a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $80,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA.
Be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
Not be in default on federal or state student loans.
Complete the FAFSA by March 1, 2026.
Enroll in a traditional undergraduate degree program (online degree-completion programs are excluded).

What the Piper Promise covers

Covered:

Tuition (15–18 credits per term), after all federal, state, institutional, and outside scholarships and grants are applied.

Not covered:

Housing and meals (living on campus is not required)
Fees
Books and supplies
Summer and May term courses
Study abroad programs

Students may choose to live on campus, off campus, or commute—the Piper Promise Grant applies equally in all cases.

Frequently asked questions

No. Housing is not required. Students who commute or live off campus remain fully eligible for the grant.
No. Students who remain eligible will continue to receive a combination of federal, state, and Hamline grants and scholarships equal to the Piper Promise funding received during their first year. However, as tuition increases in subsequent years, students are responsible for covering the additional cost through other financial resources such as loans, student employment, or personal funds.
All federal, state, institutional, and outside scholarships and grants are applied first.
No. Eligibility is determined through your FAFSA and admission application. No additional application is required.
Once you are admitted and your FAFSA has been processed, your financial aid offer will indicate whether you qualify for the Piper Promise.
The Piper Promise can support students for up to eight semesters, provided they:
- File the FAFSA on time each year.
- Continue to meet income and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) criteria.
- Remain enrolled full-time in a traditional undergraduate degree program.
Students who withdraw may forfeit eligibility. If a student’s family Adjusted Gross Income exceeds the grant limit or other eligibility requirements are no longer met, the student may lose eligibility for the Promise Grant but may still qualify for other forms of financial aid.